How to Write an Effective Post-Interview Letter

After completing the application process and interview, many medical assistant candidates just sit around waiting to hear the verdict on whether or not they are being hired for a job. However, before playing the waiting game, there one last step that is vital to the job search process. Writing a post-interview thank you letter to a potential employer may be that one thing that not only helps you stand out from the other candidates, but also further demonstrates to the employer that you are the best person for the job.

Although a post-interview thank you letter is not technically required or expected, it is a courtesy that can speak volumes and go a long way towards securing your dream job. Depending upon how many qualified applicants have applied for the position, or if you are among the final few candidates, a polite post-interview thank you letter could end up being that deciding factor in your favor. Writing this type of letter takes minimal effort, but it could definitely reinforce your candidacy and remind a potential employer that you are more than qualified for the position. It never hurts to make a positive lasting impression on the hiring manager.

There are several reasons why a post-interview thank you letter is important. First and foremost, it keeps your name and qualifications fresh in mind of the hiring manager and shows them that you know how to communicate through writing. This is especially valuable if there are numerous applicants for the same medical assistant position. Secondly, this letter reinforces your sincerity and verifies your eagerness to work in the medical assistant field. The third reason to write a thank you letter is that it allows you one last chance to explain how you can meet the demands of the difficult elements of the job and overcome any obstacles. It also actively illustrates your ability to listen and apply organizational and analytical skills, as you recount positive and negative points that were discussed about your potential employability during the interview. Last, but certainly not least, a thank you letter sent after the interview gives you that one last chance to promote yourself, increasing your chances of being hired.

How to write a post-Interview thank you letter

Take a look at the example post-interview thank you letter below. This will give you a better understanding of the important elements to include when writing your own letter. Be sure to use a professional business letter format, just as you did with your cover letter. This formal business letter format should include the heading, a salutation, the body, and a closing.

Thank you for taking time to meet with me on Tuesday evening regarding the Medical Assistant position currently open at the Sioux Falls Medical Treatment Center. I enjoyed our discussion and appreciate all of the information you shared with me about the job duties. I would like to emphasize to you that I am still very much interested in the position.

As we discussed during the interview, you are looking for applicants with experience in a fast-paced, high-traffic environment. I fully understand that this particular Medical Assistant position takes care of a large volume of admissions during peak hours. My former job at a fast-paced, high-intensity workplace served as a fantastic training ground for such an environment. I feel that my prior experience, combined with my other qualifying skills and certifications, make me the perfect candidate for admitting patients during peak hours. I am confident that I could meet all the demands of this position should you give me the chance.

If you have any further questions for me prior to filling the position, please do not hesitate to call or email me. Otherwise, I look forward to hearing about your decision by the end of the month as we discussed.

Sincerely,
Megan Smith, CMA
(403)454-3223
megan_smith@yahoo.com

There are a few things to note about the above thank you letter. First, it fulfills the primary purpose of a thank you letter, which is to express gratitude to the person who interviewed you. That may seem like an obvious step, but applicants often become overly focused on reiterating their qualifications and totally forget to mention the thank you part. The above thank you letter emphasizes one – and only one – important aspect about the medical assistant applicant that hopefully set her apart during the interview; experience working in a fast-paced work environment. This strategy provides a good angle to use, which is to refresh the hiring manager’s memory about who you are and why you are the best choice for the job.

If you feel it would be a good idea and help your cause, you may also very briefly discuss weaknesses or a lack of experience that may have been mentioned during the interview. This is a good tactic to use if there was a definite lack of qualifications or experience with specific job expectations brought to your attention during the interview. You should have taken some time to reflect between the time of the interview and when you write your thank you letter. During this time, you have probably thought of parallel experiences you could have discussed. Sometimes people get nervous during an interview and wish they would have answered an interview question differently or responded to concerns in an alternative way.

However, if no weaknesses or lack of experience were mentioned during the interview, be sure not to use the post-interview letter to bring up possible limitations or plant any seeds of doubt. This type of letter should always be brief, so do not be vague or use any empty or generic content. If you think it would help your candidacy, you can explain, in a concise and straightforward way, how you’ll compensate for any lack of experience.

As with the cover letter, you should also limit your post-interview thank you letter to one page. Ideally, it should be no more than a few paragraphs. There is no need to repeat all of your qualifications or your entire resume again. Remember, the main goal of the post-interview letter is to extend a polite thank you, keep your name and qualifications fresh in the hiring manager’s mind, and to emphasize the sincerity of your interest in the position. You may also choose to end the letter with a polite, professional statement that you would like to be hired for the position, but only if you did not already state that at the beginning of the letter. You certainly do not want your letter to sound repetitive.

What about a follow-up phone call?

Finally, there is the follow-up phone call that is made directly to the hiring manager or employer after a medical assistant interview for a job. A follow-up phone call should not be done on the same day as the interview or on the same day the post-interview thank you letter is set to arrive. It is extremely important, especially if you are contacting a busy medical professional, not to be overbearing or waste his or her time with unnecessary phone calls. There is a fine line between annoying and persistent. There is no need to send an email every day or leave eight voice-mails inquiring about the status of the position. You should at least wait until the designated date for a decision has passed before following up with a direct phone call. If no specific date or time frame was set, wait at least five to seven days after sending the post-interview letter before making the telephone inquiry about the job.

As always, be professional while speaking to the hiring manager during the phone call. Identify yourself immediately, using proper and professional phone etiquette. You should state why you are calling, what position you are calling about, and then politely inquire about any final decisions that have been made.